Dubai Mall Opens
Even though the economy is grim, big malls are opening around the world. I recently mentioned the opening of the Westfield Mall in London and now the Dubai Mall has officially opened boasting the largest number of retailers in the world. As I mentioned earlier this year, the mall boasts an aquarium and an ice rink in addition to rows and rows of stores -- an astounding 1200 stores, in fact. The mall is hosting a series of high profile events including fashion shows and performances to celebrate the opening. The mall is seen as a destination and has an adjoining 5-star hotel, The Address, Dubai Mall. So far only half the stores are open but eventually it will be home to some of the world's most famous retail chains. The developers of Dubai Mall have predicted 30 million visitors in the first year a number that some fear is a bit optimistic given the current economic picture. Check out the gallery below for some scenes from opening day including the amazing aquarium.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
John Nov 9th 2008 9:35PM
This is probably something very impressive for men to see for the first time. After that, men aren't "Shoppers". They go in for what they need and leave. I'd like to to Dubai in about a year. See the tallest building in the world. The existing one that looks like a sailboat, the skyscraper where each floor will revolve independently from the others, the ski slope, the palm shaped island and so much more.
stink Nov 9th 2008 9:54PM
looks like it should be in branson,mo
GlennBroke Nov 9th 2008 10:04PM
I should care about this?? I own part of it from the money they took out of my pocket in gas prices trying to just live and get to work. Screw Dubai, and I hope the rest of the world makes that place tank!!! What a joke if u even think of wanting to visit there. You would be such a sucker, eating out of the palm of their hand, or actually your own hand as you paid for it!!!
justpicky Nov 9th 2008 10:09PM
Branson isnt the place , out of it's league . Glennbroke is right , Ripped United States raising the gasoline .
Screw this country , we dont care . Send the money back to United States that you took.
Dave Nov 9th 2008 10:34PM
I thought human images were not allowed by the Muslim religion?
grossness54 Nov 9th 2008 11:07PM
Well suckers, enjoy your trip to the Dubai Maul - er, Mall. You've helped pay for it, after all, every time you had to fill up the ol' guzzler. So have a great time in the loverly land whose banks helped finance 9-11. But remember, all you various lovebird couples out there, you could get thrown into a very undesigner jail cell for kissing - maybe even just holding hands - in public. I've heard that Marc Jacobs will have a salon there. Oy, ist ihm eine Pferd!
Dino Nov 9th 2008 11:32PM
Dubai doesn't have oil.
Hubert Nov 9th 2008 11:38PM
Hmm I might go to Dubai and this mall and do some shopping. Or I might just use the Wal Mart credit cards my kids gave me. Decisions...decisions...
Had a friend just return from Singapore.. She said they had big maill everywhere. Every store in the world was represented...
All the top malls in the world today are located in the Middle East or SE Asia.
aprlcp Nov 9th 2008 11:58PM
Dubai doesn't make there money from oil. They have none. They used to be one of the largest pearl exporters in the world in the 1960's. Now, they make their money off of tourism. Dubai is a nice place. They have no income or any other taxes. That is why close to 80% of it's population is expats.
Emma Nov 10th 2008 5:16PM
Shocker! The world's biggest mall is in Dubai! I never would have guessed that. Ugh. America probably owns a large chunk of that mall from all of our oil money that they have over there.
Marcella Nov 10th 2008 12:25AM
I cant wait to go...I love it.
Bob Nov 10th 2008 12:36AM
tell all the obama supporters about this mall, they are the ones who voted terrorism into office. I guess 9-11 meant nothing to them and finding bin landin is not worth the 2000 plus souls murdered on that tragic day.
SaneMan Nov 10th 2008 12:44AM
Don't be so quick to group this place with anti-American countries. They don't have anything to do with what you paid to fill your car either. Don't try and bad mouth anyone that wants to go see anything there. That is how they generate revenue. That is how they create jobs. That is what the US should continue to do. Get others to visit us here and spend their money.
john Nov 10th 2008 12:56AM
Not all the stores are open.... some will open next year or the year after,.. chortle the access roads to the mall are beyond laughable and for a population of 1.2 million its expected that europeans and rich asians will be boarding planes in their millions to see...last years stocks....but like everything else the dubai PR machine will tell you busiest mall ever, biggest mall ever better mall ever ... even if no one goes there there are 5 malls on that 1o mile strip
WindyViola Nov 11th 2008 1:52PM
I'll spend my money here in the US. That's what we all should be doing right now.
irishaziz Nov 10th 2008 1:37AM
I am astounded at the ignorance of some of the comments. Dubai is booming economically due to wise investments and attracting businesses from all over the world. It is an example for us all in how cultures can live and work together. I am not saying it is perfect but I suggest that some of you read up on facts prior to commenting with remarks such as "we paid for it". You nor anyone else in USA paid for it. I just visited the mall on Friday, the aquarium and ice rink are amazing, apart from that a mall is a mall is a mall. Most of the retail outlets are not yet opened and traffic was stuck for up to three hours because of a limited number of access roads to the mall. Not a great start but judging by the number of people there I think it will become a great success.
lisa Nov 10th 2008 7:53PM
Everyone knows that the money to build this decadent sinful place came from OPEC states.. sheikhs and the Sauds five thousand princes. These selfish bastards never provided a dime to help all the underdeveloped countries in the Middle East who remain poor and dissatisfied and blame America and the West for their lavish spending their own "leaders" and "government" indulge themselves in vast riches without sharing it and by withholding the wealth never providing education, housing, a free press, job training, infrastructure for their own people. I hope the people of those countries rise up and do what the French did during their revolution and storm the palaces and behead their "leaders' who deprived them while their oppressors stole all the wealth to make a haven for the time when they will have to hide under their robes in Dubai in exile
Reply
Safwan Nov 10th 2008 3:03AM
Oh, really?
I heard almost your exact comments spoken about Beirut thirty-five years ago...how it was a haven for international businessmen to meet and conduct transactions within luxurious accommodations. The Syrian tanks rolling across the Lebanese borders devastated that architectural beauty, multi culture financial district, which was gushing with world renowned finesse. Which hateful Arab nation, this time, will destroy Dubai's attempt to erect something exotic, lovely and successful?
Brita Nov 10th 2008 2:01AM
Gotta hand it to Saudi's, they really do have style. Dubai is a very beautiful city, I went last year for class trip (I live in Sweden). I got to see the world's only 7-star hotel, the beautiful Dubai center, I saw the mall as it was being built and their nightlife is amazing!
As for those posting negative comments: sounds like they are both ignorant and jealous. ;]
lisa Nov 15th 2008 2:30AM
Everyone knows that the money to build this decadent sinful place came from OPEC states.. sheikhs and the Sauds five thousand princes. These selfish bastards never provided a dime to help all the underdeveloped countries in the Middle East who remain poor and dissatisfied and blame America and the West for their lavish spending their own "leaders" and "government" indulge themselves in vast riches without sharing it and by withholding the wealth never providing education, housing, a free press, job training, infrastructure for their own people. I hope the people of those countries rise up and do what the French did during their revolution and storm the palaces and behead their "leaders' who deprived them while their oppressors stole all the wealth to make a haven for the time when they will have to hide under their robes in Dubai in exile